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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Diabetes alone can be difficult at an amusement park, but when you add in gluten free, it can definitely be a challenge for any teenager that has an endless appetite! A lot of amusement parks are getting better at offering some gluten free options, but its really a good idea to check before hand. It will definitely help to make a more enjoyable time. Besides, isn't the food part of the fun???

I recommend calling ahead to see if the amusement park offers a microwave to use. When we visit Cedar Point, they have microwaves available in their first aid stations.

This is what I pack for our day trip:

* bag of Madras Lentils by TastyBite - This is a delicious lentil chili that can be microwaved right in the bag. You could top some gluten free amusement fries with it or dip Fritos or tortilla chips in it. This is also a good protein source:)
* individual bags of chips, doritos, fritos, etc…
* Kind bars
* individual Nutella packets with bag of gluten free pretzels
* fresh cut fries at certain places (be sure to ask that the fryer is dedicated for the fries only!)
* nuts
* small flavored rice cakes - my son likes the chocolate
* at Cedar Point, you can enjoy gluten free fries, hamburger or hot dog (without bun), pizza, chicken fingers, cotton candy, and specific flavors of Dippin' Dots.
NOTE: If you are going to eat Dippin' Dots, I highly suggest asking them to scoop from the original flavored bag and not the containers that they serve from. I often see the flavors get mixed. Know that Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Cookies n Cream are NOT GLUTEN FREE!

Don't be afraid to ask questions or to ask servers to change their gloves before handling your food.

Disclaimer: Please double check all package labels to make sure they are gluten free as they sometimes change.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Well, this week we got the results from Andrew's first A1C after starting the pump. The results are 6.1!!! I was actually surprised since it was 6.7 right before we started the pump. I have seen some rising numbers, but the pump is knocking them down right into place.

I cannot say enough how much we are both enjoying the pump! The things that the pump can do is simply amazing. We used our dual wave the other day for the first time when he ate pizza. A dual wave allows you to give 1/2 the insulin upfront and then the other 1/2 over 4 hours. Any diabetic will tell you that pizza is usually a nightmare when it comes to blood glucose numbers. It tends to spike your blood sugar hours after eating it. If you give all the insulin up front, you run the risk of going low. Having the ability to spread it out over several hours helps tremendously.

If anyone reading this is debating whether or not to go on a pump, I give it 2 thumbs up!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

We had four families in our pump class this morning. Two chose Medtronic, one chose Animas, and one chose the new T-Slim. I have to say that the new T-Slim is REALLY sleek looking. I can see that pump being very popular with the teens since it looks like a cell phone. It would be very discreet when dosing.

One of the mothers was telling me that her, her daughter, and her son all were diagnosed in 2012 with diabetes all within 6 months of each other. WOW! I cannot even imagine coping with that all at once.

When the meeting started, we had to provide the nutritionist with the amount of carbs that we would like to set for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the next week. We only have a +/- 2 either way. This will help to keep things consistent and give us a better feel when making adjustments. I have to call in to the hospital with numbers each morning and call immediately if Andrew has more than 2 lows in one day.

Well......of course.........our first blood sugar check 2 hours after starting the pump was a low of 54! We were able to treat and enjoy a lunch out on the town. Andrew had a baked fish sandwich on a gluten free bun, steamed broccoli and a glass of milk.

Our afternoon test was 80, so we'll see where it goes. It's anyone's guess when it comes to diabetes.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Andrew has had diabetes for over 2-1/2 years now. He's been on daily injections from the beginning. Since he enjoyed an AMAZING honeymoon and did not require long acting insulin, the pump was not something we needed. That was until now.

We chose the Medtronic 723 pump. The Medtronic rep came to our house last week and explained everything. Everything was ok until we had to physically attach the infusion set to him. He didn't like the feel of it and proceeded over to the sofa where he started to softly weep. My heart just broke in two. It wasn't because it was uncomfortable to him (though that matters too), but it was because he is now required to have this piece of equipment attached to him 24/7. That, along with the "unknown" when we go live with insulin next week, brought me to tears.

Starting the pump makes me REALLY nervous! I know the pump does all the calculations for us, but the thought of leaving my son's life in the hands of an electrical device makes me very scared. What if it malfunctions and delivers too much insulin?

The only thing I know to do at this point is give it all to God. Please pray for guidance and protection over Andrew as we enter our "new" diabetic journey. We go live with insulin this upcoming week.

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About Me

I'm a homeschooling mom of three wonderful children. In late 2010, we received the news that our young son had both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. It has literally turned our lives upside down. The learning curve has been incredible, but through God's guidance, we have survived. Please join us on this crazy autoimmune ride. God Bless!

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Disclaimer

This blog is strictly our family's experiences with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease. Nothing on this blog is to be taken as medical advice. Always contact your doctor regarding your/your child's health. Due to manufacturers changing ingredients without notice, please be sure to double check all gluten free product labels listed on this blog.